Evaluation of Root Canal Morphology of Maxillary First Premolars Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

This descriptive study aimed to evaluate root canal morphology of maxillary first premolars using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Data were collected and registered using CBCT images of a maxillofacial imaging center that were simultaneously evaluated by a radiologist and an endodontist. The assessed variables included the number of roots and their morphology, number of canals, and direction of root curvature and canals in buccolingual and mesiodistal directions. Data analysis was performed using Chi-squared, exact Fischer’s, and Cohen's kappa coefficient tests. In all the measurements, P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
In this study, 106 eligible CBCT showing 106 maxillary first premolars were evaluated, out of which, 34.5% of them were from male and 65.5% were from female individuals. Moreover, 67 teeth (57.8%) had only one root, and 48 teeth (41.4%) had two roots, and only 1 tooth (0.9%) had three roots. According to Vertucci et al. classification, out of 67 first premolars with one root, 19.4% (n=13), 56.7% (n=38), 11.9% (n=8), 1.5% (n=1), 7.5% (n=5), and 3% (n=2) of them were type I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, respectively.
Regarding the results, the majority of maxillary first premolars had one root with type II canals. Furthermore, maxillary first premolar might have curvature in any direction.